Broken gas line fixed at UTC mall

San Diego  A broken natural gas line prompted the evacuation of a few early-morning workers at Westfield UTC mall in University City Thursday, but repairs were completed about two hours later, officials said.

Demolition crews were knocking down a wall of the Sears store about 4 a.m., and falling debris hit a gas meter, breaking a 1-inch line at the mall on La Jolla Village Drive., San Diego Gas & Electric Co. spokesman Erin Koch said.

Firefighters cordoned off the area and evacuated a few workers from the mall. SDG&E crews got the gas shut off by about 6 a.m. and completed other repairs an hour later.